Allegation of irregularities mars Jucsu polls
Voting for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) and hall unions began across 21 residential halls -- 11 for men and 10 for women -- this morning, the first in 33 years.
The students started to cast their ballots at 9:00am amid tight security. Voting will continue till 5:00pm.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Our correspondents are reporting from JU campus.
Here are the real-time updates-
3:47 pm
Allegations of irregularities, leaflet distribution mar Jucsu polls
Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad-backed Shikkharthi Oikya Front today alleged widespread irregularities and a "planned design" in today's Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election, held after 33 years.
At a press conference at the university's Murad Chhatar, the panel's general secretary candidate Abu Touhid Mohammad Siam said ballot papers and OMR machines had been supplied by organisations linked to Jamaat-e-Islami.
He alleged that leaflets were openly distributed by Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir candidates at polling centres, with officials taking no action.
Siam further claimed loopholes in voter identification, restrictions on candidates visiting polling centres, and printing of extra ballot papers.
He accused the administration and election commission of "designing the election to benefit a particular group".
In female dormitories, voters were allegedly influenced after casting their ballots, with some told to memorise markings.
"Even after voting began, irregularities continued before the eyes of the authorities," Siam said.
He added that despite these issues, "conscious students" would resist any conspiracy through their votes.
2:15 pm
Voting at Begum Fazilatunnesa hall suspended for an hour
Voting at Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall was suspended for about an hour after allegations of rigging.
According to students, Chhatra Dal's vice-president candidate Sheikh Sadi and general secretary candidate Tanjila Hossain Baishakhi, along with supporters, entered the hall around noon. Female students protested their presence, halting voting at 12:30pm.
Authorities said polling resumed at 1:15pm. Proctor and election commission member secretary AKM Rashidul Alam described the incident as a "misunderstanding" but declined to elaborate when pressed by journalists.
1:55 pm
JU JCD leader alleges Shibir plotting to win through manipulation
Sheikh Sadi Hasan, vice president candidate backed by Chhatra Dal, today alleged that Islami Chhatra Shibir is plotting to win Jucsu polls through manipulation as "voting polls is being held using ballot papers printed by a company linked to Jamaat-e-Islami.
During an emergency press conference at Maulana Bhasani Hall today at 1:00pm, Sheikh Sadi Hasan criticised the Election Commission, accusing them of bias.
"When it was revealed that there was manipulation in the vote counting to make the Shibir panel win, Election Commission under pressure from teachers and students immediately changed its decision from using OMR machines to manual voting and issued a gazette," he said.
1:37 pm
JCD VP Hafizur released after short detention
Hafizur Rahman Sohan, vice president of Jahangirnagar University units of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal unit, for entering a polling centre in violation of the Jucsu election code of conduct, though he was later released.
The incident occurred around 11:00am today at Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall.
Hall provost Shafiqul Islam said that after being informed, he detained Sohan and handed him over to the proctorial team.
"We were informed that a Chhatra Dal leader was staying inside illegally. After receiving the information, I went to the spot and detained him," Shafiqul told The Daily Star.
University security officer Zafrul Hasan Chowdhury Sajal said the provost identified Sohan as an ex-student from the 36th batch of the English department.
"Upon receiving the information, we brought him to the Election Commission office. He signed a written undertaking stating that he had gone there to collect their observer ID card and then left the campus," Sajal said.
Asked, Jucsu Chief Election Commissioner Prof Md Moniruzzaman said he was not aware of the incident. Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal-backed candidate Sheikh Sadi declined to comment.
1:15 pm
Voting at Shahid Tajuddin Hall suspended for 25 minutes
Voting at Shahid Tajuddin Hall in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) election was suspended for 25 minutes around 12:00pm after voters and candidates protested the absence of photo-attached voter lists and the lack of indelible ink marking on fingers.
Polling resumed once the hall authorities attached the photo voter lists.
Alamgir Rubel, a zoology student, said, "There should be photos on students' index cards, but those can be altered. Without photo verification, one person could cast another person's vote. The Election Commission had sent photo-attached voter lists to every hall, but this hall was using a list without photos. Moreover, even after 153 votes were cast in the morning, no voters had ink marks on their fingers. This leaves no way to detect fake voting."
Saleh Ahmed, a member of the Central Election Monitoring Committee, said, "We found irregularities in 153 votes. Those voters had no ink marks on their fingers, and there were no photos on the voter list. We have kept those votes aside and will verify them later."
However, returning officer Alamgir Kabir said, "The use of indelible ink and photo-attached voter lists was optional. The election commission did not issue specific instructions about this. But we will verify the 153 votes that have been challenged."
12:33 pm
Ballot paper error, ink shortages disrupt voting at JU hall union polls
In the Jahangirnagar University hall union election at Jatiya Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, a ballot paper error caused confusion among voters.
For the post of executive member, students were meant to select three candidates, but the ballot instructions incorrectly stated to mark only one name.
12:10pm
Candidates complain of polling agent restrictions
Several candidates in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election today alleged irregularities concerning their polling agents, claiming many were either denied access or faced restrictions inside polling centres.
Adri Ankur, president of one faction of the Jahangirnagar University Students' Union, said the election commission did not provide clear guidance.
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"Around 1:30am we informally learned that polling agents would be allowed. But in the morning, when our agents went to different halls, some were allowed to enter, some were not. In some places, two agents went but only one was allowed inside. Because of this, we cannot properly check who is voting and how many are voting," he said.
11:49am
Journalists denied entry at women's polling centres
Journalists covering the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) polls today faced difficulties entering several women's polling centres, as security guards restricted access despite rules permitting media presence.
Between 9:00am and 10:00am, this correspondent visited five polling centres, but access was denied at four of them.
11:11am
Low voter turnout marks first hour of voting
The Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election, being held today after 33 years, began with low voter turnout across multiple polling centres, with enthusiasm notably missing on campus.
At Jahanara Imam Hall's booth 8, only three votes were cast in the first 50 minutes of polling against total 367 registered voters.
09:05am, Thursday
Voting underway amid tight security
Voting for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) and hall unions began across 21 residential halls -- 11 for men and 10 for women -- this morning, the first in 33 years.
The students started to cast their ballots at 9:00am amid tight security. Voting will continue till 5:00pm.
However, Polling at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall began at 9:10 am — 10 minutes later than scheduled — due to a delay in the arrival of ballot papers.
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